Machine-gun.



PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903.

W. G. GASS. MACHINE GUN. APPLICATION IILED APR. 7. 1902.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

No. 729,858. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903. W. G. GASS.

MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903.

W. .G. GASS. MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H0 MODEL.

WILLIAM GEORGE GAs s,

iatenteii .fu e a, 190a.

ATENT anion.

or BOLTON, ENGLAND.

MACHENEDUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part or new Patent No. 729,868, dated runs a, race.

Application filed April 7, 1902;

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I,WILLIAM GEORGE GAss, a subject of the King of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at Bolton, in the county of 3; Lancaster, England, have invented Improvements in Machine-Guns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machine-guns,

guns in which the pressure of the gases generated in the barrel by the combustion of the explosive material of the cartridge is utilized to eifect the actions necessary for reloading and firing.

Ainachine-gun according to this invention is so constructed that the working parts, which are few and simple, can be quickly and readily withdrawn for examination or repair or for enabling the rapid removal of any damaged or defective cartridge, which ordinarily would cause the mechanism to jam. The barrel is or may be'provided with means for increasing the area of its surface that is exposed to the air and for causing a current of air to impinge on the barrel, so as to in crease the cooling effect.

An automatic machine-gun according to this invention is so constructed that the apparatus by which the automatic motions are obtained canbe readily and quickly disconnected and the gun worked at will by hand.

In order that the mechanism may be readily withdrawn, the actuating handle or lever is carried by a block secured to or forming the rear part of a breech-bolt, which slides longitudinally in a guide, said breech block or bolt also carrying the mechanism which actuates the firing-pin contained within it and the devices which withdraw the live cartridges from some kind of feeder and insert them into the cartridge-chamber of the barrel and which extract and eject the empty cartridge-cases. The actuating handle or lever, which travels bodily to and fro, carrying the breech-bolt with it, and also swings about its pivot in locking the breech-bolt in the firing position in an automatic gun, is connected to a spring tending to hold it in the locking position and to a hinged piston or flap that works in a quadrant-shaped or other sector-shaped chamber communicating with an extension of the barrel and that is or lever in and more particularly'to automatic machine- Serial No. 101,700- (No model.)

moved by therein in the pressure of the explosion-gases such wise as to actuate said handle opening the breech, withdrawing the empty cartridge-case, and in position for insertion in the barrel during the returnmovement of the lever and bolt under the action of the spring.

In the accompanyingdrawings, which illustrate one arrangement of machine-gun according to this invention and designed so as to be capable of acting automatically, Figure 1' is a longitudinal section of the gun, the mechanism being shown in thefiring position. Fig. 2, is also a longitudinal section, but

showing the mechanism at the end of the recoil with the breech wide open and certain parts omitted. Fig. 3 is a plan of the gun with the top covers removed. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a trigger adapted to hold the mechanism in the position shown in Fig. 2 when required. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are sections on the lines A A, B B, C O, D D, E E, and F F, Fig. 1, "respectively. Fig. 11 is a rear end view of the barrel,showing the end cut away to allow the cartridge-carrier to pass. Fig. 12 is a plan of the forward part of the cartridge carrier with the cartridge shown ready for extraction from a feed-belt. Fig. 13 is a detail View showing in horizontal section part of the cartridge-carrier ready to extract a cartridge from the barrel. Fig. 14: is a plan of a suitable cartridge-feeding mechanism, and Fig. 15 is a view at right angles thereto. Fig. 16 is a plan of the body into which the barrel isscrew'ed and carrying the sliding breech-bolt, and Fig. 17 is a side view thereof. Figs. 18 and 19 are respectively an elevation and vertical section of a safetycatch. Fig. 20 is a similar view to Fig. 18 of a modified construction of safety-catch, and Fig. 21 is a longitudinal section through a specially-formed sector-shaped chamber containing a hinged piston or flap for use when the gun is to fire blank cartridges.

The barrel a, which may be thicker than usual, has its rear end screwed into or otherwise secured to a hollow body I), on the sides of which are dovetailed projections c, that fit into correspondingly-shaped openings d in the sides of the housing on which the gun swings, passes through the opposition to its spring, thereby placing another cartridge e, and a cross-bolt f,

section, is bored throughout its length to receive a longitudinallyssliding breech-bolt g and is cut away at h to allow the cartridges to pass freely .throughit in a downward direction, the downward passage of each cartridge being effected in two stages between which it is inserted 'into the barrel, fired, and its. empty-case extracted, which is-then ejected. I

The breech-bolt g is hollow and contains the firing-pin i, the body of which is flat and.

' slightly thicker than the diameter of its forward portion or firing-pointy and slides easily on its edge in the breech-bolt g. The lower portion of the gun-body b is cut away at k and the bolt g is formed with a pair of I downwardly-extending logs or cars l I, having pivoted between them a trigger or lever m, the upwardly-extending part of which is bifurcated and passes into the bolt where it receives between its jaws n the firing-pin '5, two projections 0, on which rest in contact withits rear part.

p is the pivot'ot the trigger, and q a firingspring that encircles a pin' 1', capable of sliding freely in the rear part of the breech-bolt. The pin 1' can be formed in one with the firing-pin 'i or separate therefrom, as required.

The front end of the breech-bolt has secured to it a plug '3, through which. the forward portion or point of the firing-pin 'ipasses. This plug is formed with flat sides, (see Fig. 13,) so that it is slightly less in width than thediamet'er of the rim of the cartridge, and the top edge of the plug is level with that of the cartridgerim when the cartridge is home in the barrel. t t are the cartridges.

by a block u, secured to it by a cotter-pin v, so that the firin g-sprin g (1 and other parts are thereby held in place. with a downward extension w, that is' bored so as to slide easily upon a longitudinal slide-' bar a), secured to the-sides of the housing. In the example the bar a: is fitted into holes in flanges or parts of the housing which are turned in to. form the opening it and is socured by a nut, as shown. The actuating handle or levery y", which is of bellcrank form and can oscillate through a small are,

is mounted on a pin 2, fixed to the bloclru. This bell-crank lever y y, which is formed of a pair of similar connected plates lying one on each side of the block u, carries on its rearwardly-extending arm y a cross-bar 1, which passes down between inward projections or shoulders 2 on the side housings cand the back of the breech-block and locks the latter in the firing position, as shown in Fig. 1. The cross-bar is allowed a little movement in the lever, so as to secure a proper locking action.

As will be seen, the opposing surfaces of the bar 1 and the shoulders 2 are curved, so that the bar may easily engage and disengage the shoulders as the lever 'y is turned about its cartridge carrier and extractor. The rear end of the breech-bolt is closed- This blockuisformed pivot and so'that the said surfaces will touch at points below the level of the axis of rota- B tion of the lever y, thus obviating any tendency of thelever to turn into. the open position when the cartridge is fired.

"Jointed to the trigger or lever m is a bar or sear 3, that extends rearwardly through the part wot the block a and is pressed upwardly bya spring 4, secured to the said block.

'Within the block is an abutment 5, that is engaged by the end of the sear 3 when the firing-pin '11 has been drawn back.

6 is a tappet arranged in the path of the lower part of the trigger or lever m. The tappet 6 is adapted to yield in opposition to a spring 7 and allow the triggerm to pass it on the forward movement of the breech-bolt, the lower end of the trigger being suitably formed and the tappet being furnished with a roller 8, asshown, to facilitate this.

' 9 is a vertically-movable pin located beneath a projection; 10 on the locking cross- .bar 1 of the actuating-lever yandresting on the bar 3. i

A catch 11 is pivoted to the lever y, as

shown, and engages with a projection 12 on the extension w, so as to prevent the said lever y swinging downwardly, so astobring the locking cross-bar into the locking position and releasing the firing-pin until .the parts have arrived at the required position ,when the said catch is disengaged by a pin 13, that is fixed to the housing e and is adapted to force down the free end of the catch 11 when the latter comes in contact with it. 11 is a spring tending to hold up the catch 11.

Attached to the upper end of the'sliding block by being pivoted easily to it at 14- is the This comprises asolid rear portion 15 and a front ICC spring partformed with two spring sides 16,

having suitably-shaped lips 17, which pass over the rear end of the cartridge that has been brought into position by a traveling belt or hopper or other feeding device, such as hereinafter described. Suitably-shaped internal guide-grooves 18 in theselips receive the rim of the cartridge, and the spring of these lips holds the cartridge securely, while at the same time it does notpret'ent the cartridge moving vertically between them. This carrier has no movement except backward- Y and-forward movement with the breech-bolt.

The spring sides 16 of the carrier may be of T shape, as shown, and extend from a point sufficiently above the barrel to enable them to engage the cartridge presented by the belt or other feeding device to below the center of the barrel, the spring sides lying edgewise, so that the lower parts are disposed on either side of the plug ,9, forming the front end of the breech-bolt. When the gun is in position for firing, Fig. 1, the spring sides fit between two shallow or narrow sn ugs 19, which are on the center line of the barrel and formed in the sides of the hole It in the body. (See Figs.

'13, 16, and 17.) These snugs prevent these parts of the spring sides which grip the empty cartridge-case opening out when starting to withdraw the cartridge from the barrel. The grooves 18 decrease in-width toward the bottom, and the rear wall thereof terminates at the level of the top of the plug 3.

Pivotally connected at 20 to the solid portion 15 of the cartridge-carrier is an arm 21, that is free to be moved about its pivot in a vertical plane by a fixed projection 22atthe forward end of the stroke of the breech-bolt and by a suitable stop 23 at the other. The projection 22-has an inclined surface and extends from one side of the housing, and the arm 21 has a pin 24 projecting laterally, so as to come in contact with the inclined upper surface of the projection 22, and an upwardlyextending part 25, adapted tocome in contact with the stop 23. The part 24 is provided with an antifriction-roller, and the stop 23 is capable of yieldingin opposition to a spring 26. This arm 21 has a downwardly-bentportion 2? working between the spring-lips 17 of the carrier and adapted to press a cartridge just drawn from the feeder downwardly'b'etween the said lips into the right position opposite the barrel, the breechbeing open during this action. The cartridge thus pressed-down forces the spent cartridge-case, which'has been extracted from the barrel, out of the carrier. 7&2 is a plate which guides the cases to discharge opening it. 'Thus the cartridge once seized by the spring-lips 17 is not released until it has been fired, extracted, and ejected from the carrier, its rim remaining in: the grooves 18 throughout.

29 is a pin projecting on one side of the lever 1 and 30 is a fixed abutment on theside of the housing against which after the backward oscillation of the lever y has raised the locking cross-bar 1 until it is nearly clear of the fixed shoulders 2 the pin 29 bears.

10* is a stop which limits the movement of the lever.

The side housings eare formed of flat plates, having dovetailed recesses 31, in which correspondingly-formed parts of the shoulders 2 fit. The recesses 31 are longer than the projecting portions of the shoulders 2, so that the said projecting portions can be inserted into the widest parts of the recesses and the shoulders secured in place by sliding their projecting portions backwardly into the narrower parts of the recesses, the portion of, the recess that is not filled up, by the projecting portion of the shoulder being inclosedby part of the shoulder itself, which is prevented from being displaced by a suitably-secured packing-piece. These shoulders require to be hardened, and with this construction the housing-plates can be made of mild steel ofa different temper to the locking-shoulders. In some cases, however, the locking-shoulders 2 may be formed as parts of the body of the gun. The housing is provided with a cover 32, the rear end of which is hinged at 33 to the side housings or plates e. The cover is held down by a suitable spring-catch (not shown) at the front. The bottom of the housing is closed bya flanged plate 34, hinged at 35 to the side housing-plates, and the back is closed by a plate 36, jointed at 37 to the plate 34 and provided at its free end with a suitable spring-catch 38, that engages projections 39 on the housings e, and thus holds both bottom and back closed. The catch 38 may be arranged inside instead of outside the housing. A handle 40 to hold and direct the gun is attached to the hack cover-plate 36, and on the inside of it is a socket 41, which receives the end of the bar as, on which the block w slides. The socket is provided with a rubber bufier 42 or a spring. Projections 36 on the housings enter recesses'in the plate 36 and prevent itsweight being thrown on the catch 38. s

In order to obtain the required backward motion of the actuating-lever 1 automatically, on the muzzle of the gun is arranged an extension 44, which is bored out to a diameter slightly in excess of the largest diameter over the riding of the barrel This gives a free passage for the bullet. This extension is secured to the barrel in any convenient way-for instance, by screwing it thereonits threaded portion being split at 45 and provided with a transverse clamping screw or bolt 46. With the bore of this extension an approximately quadrant-shaped chamber 47 communicates by a passage 48, formed by cutting away the extension to an approximately circular curved form at right angles to the bore of the extension and the highest point of which is at about the axis of the said extension. The side plates of the chamber are afterward put on and secured by brazing, electric welding, or other suitable means. The extension and quadrant chamber may be made integral 'with the barrel; but it is more convenient to make them separate. This chamber has in it a piston or flap 49, mounted at its rear part on a transverse hinge 50, its free forward edge moving closely against but not touching the curved wall 51 of the chamber. The top of the hinged piston is made with serrations, pockets, or projections, so as to form a toothed surface, against which the issuing gases act, and thus start the outwardly-swinging movement of the piston 49, the completion of whose movement is efiected by the expansion of the gases in the quadrant-shaped chamber 47, which is below the axis of the barrel. The serrations, pockets, or projections While not absolutely necessary are advantageous. The hinged piston 49 is coupled by a connecting rod or link 52 to the actuating lever or handle y. 53 is a spring that tends to hold the said lever or handle and the whole mechanism in the firing position shown in Fig. 1. This motorspring may conveniently be a tension-spring, attached at one end to the housing by a bolt 54and nut 55 and at the other end to the lower part of the actuating lever or handle.

' can be passed between the side plates form-- The tension of the spring can be regulated by the external nut 55. The lever or handle "y isprovided with a transverse pin or bar 56, and the end of the rod or link 52 is formed on its upper part with a recess 57, adapted to receive the said pin. The spring 53 is connected to the lever y by a T-shaped link-piece 58, which ing the lever y and then turned so that its head will engage in recesses 59 in the'rear sides of the side plates of the lover. The linkpiece 58 is so arranged that it then also acts to keep the connecting rod or link 52 raised and in engagement with the pin 56 in the lever or handle. The link-piece 58 is provided, when necessary, with a suitable spring-catch, so that it cannotaccideutally come out of the slot when firing. The said lever or handle extends through a slot in the bottom plate 34 of the housing, so that itcan be drawn back by hand to commence firing. or to enable the gun to be worked by hand when the automatic gear is disconnected. When 'it is desired to render the gun non-automatic, the

motor-spring 53 and the connecting rod or link 52 are disconnected, and the latter is drawn to its most rearward position and held there by a suitable spring 60 or a catch, so that the hinged piston 49 will be in a position where it will not be acted on by the gases and the gun can be worked by hand. In some cases only the connecting rod or link is disconnected.

62 is a suitable trigger-catch pivoted to the bottom housing 34, by which the lever year. be engaged and the mechanism thus held with the breech open. This trigger-catch 62 is held back out of action while continuous firing is taking place by means of an external fin ger-loop 63 and can be fixed back fol-handfiring by engaging the loop with a hook 64.

In the side housing e is fitted a safetycatch, such as shown in Figs. 18 and 19 or in Fig. 20, by which the breech-locking crossbar 1 is prevented going into place and the action of the gun stopped even witha loaded cartridge in position. The safety-catch comprises a sliding plate 65, having an external knob 66 and an internal pin 67, which when in one position extends beneath the cross-bar 1 when the breech-bolt has moved forward to the end of its stroke and prevents said bar moving down into the locking position. As the locking cross-bar cannot now complete its movement, the firing-pin is not released. The plate may have a horizontal motion, Figs. 19 and 20, or a swinging motion, Fig. 21.

68 is a flexible belt carrying the cartridges t and passing through a frame 68%.

69 is a cross-slide provided with hanging pawls 70 and reciprocated by the movement of the breech-bolt g by means of arod 71 and bell-crank lever, 72. The rod 71 has adownwardly-bent end which extends between two pins 20 and 74, projecting laterally from the solid part 15 of the cartridge-carrier, so that as the latter moves to and fro the rod 71 is also moved. The pawls 70 are adaptedtd e1 1 gage the cartridges i when the slide 69 moves in one direction, and 75 represents detents provided in the frame 68 to prevent the band" of cartridges slipping back when the slide moves in the reverse direction. 68*, Fig. 1, is p the hinged cover ofthe feeding device. A wheel-feed worked in a similar manner could be used, or the cartridges could fall by gravity into position from a hopper instead of the slide arrangement described. The cartridgefeeding arrangement is carried on a vertical pin 76, secured to the side of the housing, so that it can be easily swung out of the way without becoming detached from the gun,and is secured by a suitable catch 77 when in place.

For the purpose of causing air to travel on to the barrel of the gun for cooling purposes on the connecting rod or link 52 are secured suitably-shaped farmers 79, which fanners may comprise transverse pieces of metal of inverted-V shape in cross-section.

80 is a housing or shield that is open top and bottom, directs-the air moved by the fannersonto the barrel, and the heat from the barrel causes a further draft up through said housing. These housings for the barrel are securedin a similar manner to the main housings by wedge-or dovetailed projections and one cross-bolt. The housings may be formed in one instead of two rpieces, if desired. In order that the air may act with the greatest effect on the barrel, it is inclosed in a closelyfitting metallic tube 81, preferably of copper on account of its higher conductivity, the

tube being perforated, as shown, so as to in crease its cooling-surface.

The automatic action of the gun is as follows: Assuming the mechanism to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, the firing-pin i having just struck the cap of the cartridge that is within the barrel a, the explosion of the cartridge will drive the bullet forward, and as it passes through the extension 44 a portion of the explosion-gases moves in a downwar and forward direction in contact with the upper surface of the hinged piston 49 and starts it'turning about its hinge, which turning movement is then caused to continue by the expansion of the gases in the quadrant chamber 47, the hinged piston being thereby driven downwardly and backwardly until it assumes a position in which its free edge has cleared the chamber, whereupon, free egress having been allowed for the expanding gases,

movement of the piston ceases. The movement of the piston is communicated, through the connecting rod or link 52, to the actuating lover or handle 11 The lever y is swung back about its pivot until its pin 29 bears against the abutment 30, whereupon the bar 1 being then above the shoulders 2 the breechbolt'g is started moving backwardly. Thus the abutment 30 then becomes the fulcrum of the lever, which then acts on the bolt 9 at a mechanical advantage, owing to the positions ICO- ' part of the spring sides l6.

'of the pin 29 and the pivot z. I This movetridge-carrier and also withdraws from the barrel a the empty case of the cartridge just fired, whose rim will be gripped by the lower When the lever 3 can turn no farther about its pivot .2, it and the breech-bolt are moved back bodily. During the backward movement of the breechbolt the lower part of the lever m comes into contact with the tappet 6 and is thereby tripped in such wise as to draw back the firing-pin 'i and compress the spring (1 until the free end of the sear 3 moves from beneath the abutment 5, whereupon the spring 4 lifts the bar into engagement therewith, the parts then being in the position shown in Fig. 2. Meanwhile the part 25 of the ejecting-arm 21 has come into contact with the yielding stop 23, and the part 27 has thereby been forced downwardly. This presses the cartridge just drawn from the feeder into a position opposite the barrel, and the said cartridge forces the empty case before it out of the carrier-arms 16. The return movement or the breech-bolt and other parts is effected by the motor-spring 53 acting through the lever y, the cross-bar 1 of which slides upon or above the upper surfaces of the shoulders 2 until the breech-bolt and the live cart-ridge are home. The cross-bar 1 will then have jnstclearcd the shoulders, and the catch 11 having been released by the pin 13 the lever will be pulled down, so that the cross-bar 1 comes in front of the shoulders 2, so as to lock the bolt. This locking movement of the lever causes the projection 10 to force down the pin 9, and thereby release the near 3 from the abutment 5 and allow the spring '(1 to drive forward the firing-pin and fire the cartridge that has been inserted in the barrel by the forward movement of the breech-bolt. The forward movement will cause the arm 21. to be raised by its pin 24: acting on the inclined projection 22 and will cause the upper part of the arms 16 to spring over and grasp the rim of a fresh cartridge presented to it by the feeder. When the breech is wide open, or, in fact, atany point, the cartridgecarrier may be lifted up and examined.

In case anything sticks it is simply necessary to push the defective cartridge out to make a fresh start. This can be done either by opening the top of the housing or byasuitable device operated from the outside when the breech is wide open.

The construction of the gun is such that by disconnecting the connecting-rod 52, motorspring 53, and opening the covers or hinged parts 32, 34, and 36 of the housing all the moving parts of the gun can he removed (by pulling back the lever, and so withdrawing the block 10 from the bar 00) and replaced in a few seconds.

To enable the gun to work automatically with blank cartridges, the end of the barirel may beclosed or partly closed by a device such as illustrated in Fig. 21, so as to more orless confine the explosion-gases and cause them to act upon the hinged piston, as hereinbefore described. The device illustrated in Fig.21 is similar to that illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2 except that there is no outlet in line with the barrel; but the top of the device is curved so as to direct all the gases of explosion onto the piston, the gases escaping from the quadrant chamber at the bottom. In some cases the piston may be made a loose fit, or a reduced outlet=aperture may be formed in line with the barrel.

It will be readily seen that the mechanism hereinbefore described can be operated by other means than the hinged piston device herein mentioned, which may, however, be used to operate other forms of breech mech anism, or the gun can be constructed without the hinged piston device.

It is to be understood that, if desired, a water-jacket can be fitted to the barrel without in any wayinterfering with the mechanism.

The gun can be carried by any suitable means such as is ordinarily adopted for such guns, and anysuitable arrangement ofsights can be added.

Some of my improvements may be employed without others, and the details of construction can be varied to suitspccial requirements. Thus in some cases-for instance, in guns of larger sizesthe form of the passage 48, leading to the chamber 47, may require to be otherwise arranged in order that the gases may act as required upon the piston 49 without tending to deflect the bullet. Fig.

. 22 indicates, by way of example, an arrangement in which instead ofva single passage communicating with the under side of the bore of the extension two lateral passages 48 are provided.

instead of a tension-spring a compressionspring may be employed, such a spring encircling a rod attached to the lever n by a sort of link piece or plate 58, one end of the spring acting against a fixed abutment and the other against a nut on the rod. 7

What I claim is- 1. in a machine-gun, a breech-bolt sliding in a guide, a spent-cartridge-case extractor carried thereby and an actuating and locking lever pivoted thereto, a cross-bar carried by said lever and shoulders, with which when in its locking position, said lever is adapted to A engage, a fixed abutment adapted to serve as a fulcrum for said lever when it has been turned about its pivot and become disengaged from said shoulders to release the breech-bolt so that the force applied to the lever will act upon the bolt at a mechanical advantage, thus facilitating the starting of the extraction of the spent cartridge-case, and a stop for limiting the turning movement of the lever so that it will subsequently be moved back bodily together with the breechbolt and parts carried by it until the breech is fully open, as set forth.

2. In a machine-gun, a breech-bolt sliding in a guide, a spent-cartridge-case extractor carried thereby and an actuating and locking lever pivoted thereto, a cross-bar carried by said lever and shoulders, with which when in its locking position, said lever is adapted to engage, a fixed abutment adapted to serve as a fulcrum for said lever when it has been turned about its pivot and become disengaged from said shoulders to release the breech-bolt so that the force applied to the lever will act upon the bolt at a mechanical advantage, thus facilitating the starting'of the extraction of the spent cartridge-case, a stop for limiting the turning movement. of the lever so that it will subsequently be moved back bodily togel her with the breech-bolt and parts carried by it until the breech is fully' open, means for loading and firing the cartridges, means for extracting and ejecting the empty cartridge-cases, and an inclosing casing or housing having hinged portions, all the parts inclosed thereby being so con nected and arranged that they can be collectively withdrawn and replaced as set forth.

In a machine-gun, breech mechanism comprising a hollow breech-bolt sliding in a guide, a firing pin capable of longitudinal movement therein, a spring tending to force said pin forward, a cocking-lever pivoted to said bolt-and having jaws which extend into it and there engage with, lateral projections on the firing-pin, a spring-pressed sear pivoted tosaid cocking-lever and adapted to engage with an abutment. upon the bolt so ns'temporarily to hold said cocking-lever and firing-pin in the cocked position, a stationary tappet which, during the backward movement of the breech-bolt, acts upon the cocking-lever so that the latter will cook the firing-pin, an actuating-lever carrying a cross-bar and the movement of which into I the locking position, causes .the cross-bar to release the sear of the cocking-lever, and a catch carried by the actuating-lever and adapted to prevent it assuming the locking position until the breech is closed, as set forth. v

4. In a machine-gun, breech mechanism comprising a hollow breech-bolt sliding in a guide, a firing-pin capable of longitudinal movement therein, a spring tending to force said pin forward, a cocking-lever pivoted to said bolt and having jaws which extend into it and there engage with lateral projections on the firing-pin, a spring-pressed sear pivoted to said cocking-lever and adapted to engage with an abutment carried by the bolt so ns temporarily to hold said cocking-lever and firing-pin in the cooked position, ast-ationary tappet which, during the backward movement of the breech-bolt, acts upon the cocking-lever so that the latter will cock the firing-pin, an actuating-lever mounted upon an extension of the breech-bolt, a tapering pin or cotter securing said extension to the hollow breech-bolt and thus holding the firingpin and its spring in position, and a catch carried by the actuating-lever and adapted to prevent it assuming the locking position until the breech is closed, as set forth.

5. In breech mechanism, the combination with the barrel, a hollow breech-bolt' sliding in a guide and a cartridge-feeding device, of a cartridge-carrier having a reciprocatory movement only and provided .with springarms, which extend from below the barrel to the level of the cartridge-feeding device, one

on each side of the forward end of the breechbolt, formed with guiding-grooves, and adapted, as they move forward with the breechbolt to move outwardly over the end of and clip the cartridges with the rims thereof in said grooves and retain their hold of them' during their withdrawal from the feeding device, loading, extraction from the breech and until final ejection from the gun, as set forth.

6. In breech mechanism, the combination with the barrel, a hollow breech-bolt sliding in a guide and a cartridge-feeding device, of a cartridge carrier having a reciprocatory movement only and provided with: springarms, which extend from below the barrel to the level of the cartridge-feeding device, one on each side of the forward end of the breechbolt, formed with guiding-grooves, of decreasing width toward the bottom and adapted, as they move forward with the breech-bolt to move outwardly over the end of and clip the cartridges with the rims thereof in said grooves and to retain their hold of them during their withdrawal from the feeding device, loading, extraction from the breech and until final ejection from the gun, as set forth.

7. In breech mechanism, the combination with the barrel, a hollow breech-bolt sliding in a guide and a cartridge-feeding device of a cartridge-carrier provided with spring-arms, which extend from below the barrel to the level of the cartridge-feeding device, one on each side of the forward end of the breechbolt, formed with guiding-grooves, and adapted, as they move forward wit-h the breechbolt to spring open and clip the cartridges withthe rims thereof insaid grooves and to retain their hold of them during their withdrawal from the feeding device, loading, extraction from the breech and until final ejection from the gun, and an arm pivoted to it and adapted to be moved downwardly be- I tween the spring-arms thereof during the last portion of the backward movement of the breech-bolt for the purpose ofrmoving the live cartridge just withdrawn from the feeder into position ready to be forced into the barrel and of causing it to eject the empty cartridge-case below it, as set forth.

'8. In a machine-gun, a breech bolt sliding in a guide, a spent-cartridge-case extractor carried thereby and an actuating and locking lever pivoted thereto, a cross-bar carried by said lever and shoulders, with which when in its locking position, said lever is adapted to engage, a fixed abutment adapted to serve as a fulcrum for said lever when it has been turned about its pivot and become disengaged from said shoulders to release the breech-bolt so that the force applied to the lever will act upon the bolt ata mechanical advantage, thus facilitating the starting of the extraction of the spent cartridge-case, a stop for limiting the turning movement of the lever so that it will subsequently be moved back bodily together with the breech-bolt and parts carried by it until the breech is fully open, a motorspring tending to draw said lever into the locking position, a sector-shaped chamber communicating with an extension of the barrel, a hinged piston or flap working therein and adapted to be actuated by the forward motion of the gases in said extension and their expansion in said chamber, and a rod connecting said piston or flap and the actuatinglever, as set forth.

9. In a machine-gun, a breech-bolt sliding in a guide, a spent-cartridge-case extractor carried thereby and an actuating and locking lever pivoted thereto, a cross-bar carried by said lever and shoulders, with which when in its locking position said lever is adapted to engage, a fixed. abutment adapted to serve as a fulcrum for said lever when it. has been turned about its pivot and becomedisengaged from said shoulders to release the breechbolt so that the force applied to the lever will act upon the bolt at a mechanical advantage, thus facilitating the starting of the extraction of the spent cartridge-case, a stop for limiting the turning movement of the lever so that it will subsequently be moved back bodily together with the breech-bolt and parts carried by it until the breech is fully open, a meter-spring tending to draw said lever into the locking position, a sector-shaped chamber communicating with an extension of the barrel, a hinged piston or flap working therein and adapted to be actuated by the forward motion of the gases in said extension and their expansion in said chamber, a rod connecting said piston or flap and theactuatinglever, said motor-spring and connecting-rod being disconnectible so as to render the gun non-automatic, as set forth.

10. In a machine-gun, a breech-bolt sliding in a guide, a spent-cartridge-case extractor carried thereby-and an actuating and locking lever pivoted thereto, a cross-bar carriedgby. said lever and shoulders, with which when-in its locking position, said leverlis adaptedto engage, a fixed abutment adapted to serve as a fulcrum for said lever when it has been turned about its pivot and become disengaged from said shoulders to release the breech-bolt so that the force applied to the-lever will act upon the bolt at a mechanical advantage, thus facilitating thestarting of the extraction of the spent cartridge-case, a stop for limiting the turning movement of the lever so that it will subsequently bemoved back bodily together with the breech-bolt and parts carried by it until the breech is fully open, a motor-spring tending to draw said lever into the locking position, a sector-shaped chamber communicating with an extension of the barrel, a hinged piston or fiapworking therein and adapted to be actuated by the forward motion of the gases in said extension and their expansion in said chamber, a rod conmeeting said piston or flap and the actuating' and formed with tooth-like projections or pockets on a surface that is acted upon by the explosiongases, as set forth.

12. In a machine-gun, the combination with the barrel and breech mechanism, of a forward extension carried by said barrel and having a passage therethrough for the bullet, a piston or flap hinged at its rear edge in, and freely and closely fitting a sector-shaped chamher in communication with said forwardextension, said piston or flap practically closing communication between the chamber and the barrel, when the breech is closed, a lever adapted to actuate the breech mechanism and a connection between said piston or flap and lever, the expansion in said chamber of the explosion-gases continuing to cause movement of the piston or flap until their egress is allowed, substantially as described.

13. A machine -gun comprising a breechbolt, an actuating-lever, cartridge loading, firing, extracting and ejecting means carried by said bolt, and a hollow body to which the rear end of the barrel is secured, and in which said breech-bolt slides, and side plates forming a housing, said body being formed externally with dovetail projections that fit into correspondingly formed slots or holes in the side plates and being cut away to permitot the passage of the cartridges through it and to allow of the movements of the various parts during their operation and also to permit of the withdrawal of the breech-bolt and connected parts collectively, as set forth.

14. In a machinegun, the combination with a sliding breech-bolt, of cartridgefeeding mechanism and a rod moved to and fro during the completion of the backward and forward movements of the breech-bolt by tappets thereon and communicating motion to the cartridge-feeding mechanism, as set forth.

15. Inamachine-gun,thecombinationwith a sliding breech -bo1t, of cartridge-feeding ing mechanism pivoted at one side of the casing or housing and adapted to be swung into position or clear of the breech mechanism as required and a spring-catch adapted to hold in position as set forth.

17. In an automatic machine-gun the breech mechanism of which is operated by the pressure of the explosion-gases acting on a piston or the like that is connected to the said mechanism 'bya longitudinally-movable red the combination with the barrel and rod of means adapted to cause air-currents to flow past the barrel each time the rod is moved, and side housings inclosing same but open at top and bottom, as and for the purpose specified.

18. In an automatic machine-gun,the breech mechanism of which is operated by the pressure of the explosion-gases actin g on a piston or the like that is connected to the said mechanism by a longitudinally-movable red, the combination with the barrel and rod,0f means carried by the rod adapted to cause air-currents to flow past the barrel each time the rod is moved, and side housings inclosing same but open at top and bottom, as set forth.

19. In an automaticmachine-gumthe breech mechanism of which is operated by the pressure of the explosion-gases acting on a piston or the like that is connected to the said mechanism by a longitudinally-movable rod, the combination with the barrel and rod, of pieces of metal of inverted-V section secured to said rod and adapted to cause air-currents to flow past the barrel each time the rod is moved, and side housings inclosing same but open at top and bottom, as set forth.

20. In a machine-gun an inclosing casing comprising side plates and hinged covers reases I adapted to close in the top, rear end and bottom of said casing or housing, the rear end and bottom plates being hinged or jointed together, and held in position by catches as set forth. 4

21. In a machine-gun the combination with a sliding breech-bolt of a cartridge-carrier and cartridge-depressing arm pivoted to the said breech-bolt, projections on said arm and fixed abutments adapted to cooperate so as to cause the arm to oscillate about its pivot and thus make room for anddepress the cartridge just received by the carrier, as set forth.

22. In a machine-gun, a breech-bolt sliding in a guide, a spent-cartridge-case extractor carried thereby and an actuating and locking lever pivoted thereto, a cross-bar carried by said lever and shoulders, with which when in its locking position, said lever is adapted to engage, a fixed abutment adapted.- to serve as a fulcrum for said lever when it has been turned aboutits pivot and become disengaged from said shoulders to release the breech-bolt so that ,the force applied to the lever, will act upon the bolt ata mechanical advantage, thus facilitatingthe startingof the extraction of the spent cartridge-case, a stop for limiting the turning movement of the lever so that it will subsequently be moved back bodily together with the breech-bolt and parts carried by it untilthebreechis fullyopen,meansforloading and firing the cartridges, means for extracting and ejecting the empty cartridge-cases, an inclosing casing or housing having hinged portions, all the parts inclosed thereby being so connected-and arranged that they can be collectively withdrawn and replaced, a block secured to the breech-block and having the actuating-lever pivoted to it, a fixed guidebar' upon the rearwardly-extending part of which said block slides and whose rear end is supported by a socket carried by the hinged rear cover or plate of the gun casing or housing, as set forth.

Signed at Bolton, in the county of Lancaster, England, this 24th day of March, 1902.

WILLIAM GEORGE GASS. 

